Woman charged in Fund fraud

Paperwork irregularities trip up New Jersey applicant

Credit: Unknown

EMERGENCY RESPONSE: Iris Gamble of Linden, N.J., above, filed a claim with the One Fund Boston alleging that she was injured in the April 15 attacks.

A 44-year-old New Jersey woman was charged with fraud and attempted theft from One Fund Boston after authorities said she falsely claimed she was injured in the Boston Marathon bombings and treated at a Newark hospital.

Iris Gamble of East Curtis Street, Linden, N.J., was charged with submitting a fraudulent claim to the fund set up to aid victims of the marathon bombings. She is the third person accused of attempting to defraud the charity.

Investigators calculated that the assistance Gamble requested would have cost about $8,000, the lowest category of aid the organization provides, authorities said. She withdrew her request before fund officials made a determination.

“Before any money was distributed, One Fund Boston forwarded concerns about this claim to our office. After an initial investigation, we informed the Union County Prosecutor’s office, which agreed to further investigate the case,” said Christopher Loh, spokesman for Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.

“Attempting to steal money from the real victims of the marathon bombing, and from the people who gave so generously to help them, is unconscionable,” Loh added.

Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park said, “Due to a number of irregularities and misspellings in the paperwork, the application was flagged and the case was forwarded to the prosecutor’s office by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office. Our investigation revealed that the defendant was not in Boston on the day of the bombings. The defendant wasted little time in trying to profit from the generosity and kindness of others.”

Gamble was served with the complaint at her home on Thursday, Park said. She was charged with third-degree attempted theft by deception, fourth-degree fraud and fourth-degree creating fraudulent documents under New Jersey law.

Gamble’s first court appearance is scheduled for Friday in Union County Superior Court, prosecutors said.

Said Loh: “We will continue our review of all claims made to ensure that the only people who receive money are the true victims of this horrible event.”